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The Bureau of Land Management is receiving backlash this week after photos surfaced of a contractor allegedly driving over fossilized dinosaur tracks with a backhoe at Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, outside Moab./ Photo by Jeremy Roberts
Not so dyno-mite BLM drives over, destroys 112-million-year-old dinosaur tracks by Jonathan Romeo
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inosaur tracks outside Moab that survived millions of years were destroyed in just a few days after the Bureau of Land Management drove a backhoe over the ancient relics, leading many to ask, “How did this happen?” “The BLM destroyed these irreplaceable treasures,” Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “If ever there was a paleontological emergency, this is one. They need to be held accountable.” The situation has been unfolding all week. Last Friday, reports started to come in that a company contracted by the BLM’s Canyon Country District was working on a construction project at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, one of the most significant and diverse areas for dinosaur tracks in North America, located about a 20-minute drive northwest of Moab. On Sunday, a group of paleontologists visited Mill Canyon, confirming that about one-third of the fossilized tracks in the 30-acre area had been damaged by the backhoe, which was still on site along with other equipment. As of Wednesday, it remains unclear if there’s any way to repair the ancient footprints of several species of dinosaurs, crocodiles and birds dating back 112 million years. “No one knows why the BLM did this, and we need answers,” Jeremy Roberts, a paleontology enthusiast and volunteer who is involved in Mill Canyon, said. “We’re just in shock. How did this happen?” That answer, however, has been difficult to come by.
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Digging in dirt The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite was first discovered in 2009 by a Moab resident and was immediately recognized by the world’s top paleontologists and researchers as a place of great significance in the study of ancient creatures who populated this once lush, marshy landscape. Not only were the millions-years-old tracks incredibly well-preserved, the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite – in what’s known as the Cedar Mountain Formation – is the largest site of its kind. And, researchers say it’s arguably the most important relic in the world from the Early Cretaceous period (which followed the Mesozoic Era, that of “Jurassic Park” fame). As it stands, Mill Canyon is ranked as the No. 7 most important dinosaur track site in the United States, based on the size and quality of the footprints, public visitation and diversity of species, among other factors. A team of top paleontologists formed in 2013 to conduct the first excavation, drawing interest from international researchers. In all, about 200 tracks were discovered, but that was only the tip of the petrified primordial muck. Researchers noted, “the site has considerable potential for further excavation and future study.” As an example, tracks found on-site could not be placed to any known, documented species, opening up the possibility of future scientists solving the mystery. Part of solving mysteries such as those, however, require the tracks actually remain intact. “I’m definitely concerned (the recent damage) happened so suddenly without any consultation,” Martin Lockley, a world-renowned paleontologist who led the 2013 excava-
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tion, said. “But if there are repercussions for the BLM … that’s not for me to say.” What happened? Here’s what we know: After the 2013 excavation, the BLM decided to open Mill Canyon to the public in a concerted way. Previously, the area was vulnerable to damage from cattle, off-road vehicles and hikers (though a fence was installed in 2011), as well as natural processes like erosion. As a result, a 262-foot-long, 2-foot-wide raised wooden boardwalk was built over the site so visitors could “walk with the dinosaurs” without stepping on or damaging the tracks. The boardwalk, however, was not routinely maintained and fell into relative disrepair, perhaps because of chronic underfunding that plagues most federal land management agencies. However, in October 2021, the BLM approved a $250,000 restoration project claiming the boardwalk presented a “serious trip hazard” due to warping. The BLM, in its own Environmental Assessment, determined the project would have no significant impact on the dinosaur tracks. The agency also said it would flag any tracks, if found, to avoid driving over them. But when paleontologists visited the site last Sunday, they said no such flags were found around the damaged fossilized tracks. Curiously, too, the BLM did not appear to consult any paleontologists when planning the project. Many believe the gross oversights that resulted in the damage during the boardwalk teardown were, in part, because the Canyon Country District never rehired a staff paleontologist after the departure of Rebecca Hunt-Foster in August 2018.
